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Audit: Louisiana health department fails to fix financial and compliance issues | Louisiana

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-18 10:25:00

(The Center Square) — The Louisiana Department of Health continues to struggle with a range of persistent financial and compliance issues, according to a new report released by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Despite some progress, the agency has failed to resolve the majority of its prior audit findings — some of which have gone uncorrected for as long as seven years.

The audit, which reviewed the status of problems flagged in a March 2024 management letter, found that LDH had resolved only one issue: inadequate controls over and noncompliance with National Correct Coding Initiative requirements.

The remaining concerns — ranging from financial misreporting to Medicaid eligibility and provider oversight — remain unresolved and, in some cases, have worsened.

Among the most significant issues: LDH could not provide documentation to show that $248 million in Medicaid expenditures reported to the federal government had a matching state share as required. That shortfall led auditors to identify $168 million in federal questioned costs.

Additionally, the department failed to properly update federal cost-share percentages in state accounting systems for half the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 — resulting in another $87.6 million in questioned federal costs.

In response, LDH management admitted the reporting errors and attributed the failures to staffing shortages and insufficient training.

The department said it has hired a vendor to provide support and training for federal reporting requirements and has launched a broader staff development plan aimed at improving accuracy and compliance.

Other key findings include:

  • For the seventh straight year, LDH failed to fully enroll and screen all Medicaid managed care and dental providers as required by federal law, leaving gaps in the accuracy and reliability of provider information.

  • For the fourth consecutive year, the department lacked adequate financial controls and submitted inaccurate federal schedules used to track expenditures of federal awards.

  • Payroll certification failures also persisted for a third year, with auditors finding LDH had not followed procedures for timesheet approvals or leave requests.

  • Disproportionate Share Hospital payments exceeded the federally-allocated limit by $4.2 million due to inadequate reconciliation.

  • Maternity kick payments — lump sum payments made to managed care organizations when a member becomes pregnant—remained noncompliant for the second straight year, increasing the risk of overpayments.

  • Eligibility determinations for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program remained plagued by internal control issues for the fifth year in a row.

  • Billing problems in behavioral health services continued into a sixth year, with auditors citing ongoing failures by LDH and its contractors, including Magellan Health Services, to prevent and detect improper claims.

  • Home and community-based services under the state’s Medicaid waiver programs were also paid without adequate documentation for the second year in a row.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating

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wgno.com – MICHAEL R. SISAK, LARRY NEUMEISTER and JENNIFER PELTZ, Associated Press – 2025-07-01 16:29:00

SUMMARY: In Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, the jury reached a partial verdict on four of five counts but remains deadlocked on the top racketeering conspiracy charge. After two days of deliberation, the judge encouraged jurors to continue. The conspiracy charge, under the RICO Act, involves determining if Combs ran a criminal enterprise and committed offenses like kidnapping. Jurors requested key testimony from Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie and another witness concerning abuse allegations. Combs denies charges, claiming prosecutors are criminalizing his lifestyle. Conviction could mean 15 years to a life term. The trial continues amid intense scrutiny of evidence and jury deliberations.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Morning Forecast – Monday, June 30th

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www.youtube.com – KTVE – 2025-06-30 09:01:57

SUMMARY: A warm, moist airmass persists with daytime heating and upper-level disturbances causing patchy storms late afternoons and evenings. A front arriving tomorrow may bring more scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cooler temperatures might briefly dip to the lower 90s on Wednesday, but heat will return by the Fourth of July, reaching mid to upper 90s with heat indices in the mid triple digits late week. Rain chances decrease by July 4th due to strengthening ridging aloft. Elevated dew points in the 70s and prolonged dangerous heat increase heat stress risk, urging precautions like altering outdoor plans and recognizing heat illness symptoms.

Conditions have not changed much. A very warm and moist airmass still remains in place. Daytime heating, abundant moisture, and upper-level disturbances will allow for more patchy storms late afternoon into the evening hours. A front will approach tomorrow when more scattered showers and t-storms are possible. There is a brief opportunity for cooler temperatures to drop to the lower 90’s on Wednesday. Then, we are back to the mid and pushing upper 90’s by the end of the week on the 4th. Rain chance will subsidize by the 4th and over the weekend, but heat indices will push into the mid triple digits late week.

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Chance of downpours today, hazy skies

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www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-06-30 05:09:16

SUMMARY: A chance of scattered afternoon downpours continues today with hazy skies caused by Saharan dust lingering through Wednesday. Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Depression Barry in Mexico and Tropical Storm Filosy in the Pacific is feeding rain chances in Texas. Expect daily spotty showers and storms, mostly in the afternoons, with rain chances around 20-30% through Thursday. Temperatures will be warm but not extreme, ranging from low 90s to mid-90s by Independence Day. Thursday and the Fourth of July will be partly cloudy, humid, and have much lower chances of rain. No hail or flooding is expected this week.

Saharan dust has arrived, with a chance of downpours today.

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